Sam turned to her three team-mates and found them looking back at her with a mixture of awe and shock. She remembered they'd done the same when she'd killed the Goa'uld Seth with a ribbon device once and shuffled a little uncomfortable with their reaction. Maybe the 'I am the weapon' thing had been a little too much, she considered wryly.

'Wow.' Mitchell said as he gawped at his team leader across the rubble of Replicator blocks.

'How?' Daniel demanded bemused.

'Who cares how?' Jack started grinning. 'Nice.'

Sam felt her own lips curve upwards before a sharp pain tore through her head. She staggered. An arm went around her as the world went momentarily dark; when she opened her eyes, she was clutching onto Jack's shoulder and he was helping keep her upright.

'You OK, Carter?' Jack asked anxiously.

'Sorry, sir. Just a headache.' She rubbed at her temple and the throbbing pain there. 'I may have overdone it.'

'No such thing with a Replicator, Carter.' Jack murmured.

The ship rocked as it came under fire.

'We need to get out of here.' Jack said taking charge. 'Daniel, the rings.'

'Right.' The archaeologist jerked and made his way over to the panel on the wall. He activated them and hurried back to join his three team-mates in the circle.

They reappeared on the scout ship. Teal'c barely spared them a glance over his shoulder. He was busy flying trying to avoid the volley of fire directed at them. 'It is good to see you again, O'Neill.'

'Likewise.' Jack said leaving Sam to move behind him while Mitchell moved into the second seat. Sam and Daniel took positions behind him. 'What's going on?'

'Ba'al has attacked.' Teal'c said succinctly.

Jack rolled his eyes at the literal answer. 'How's the battle going?'

'We are losing.' Teal'c stated with disappointment. 'Ba'al will soon be able to land his troops on Dakara.'

'Any ideas?' Jack asked looking back at Sam and Daniel.

'I'm all out, sir.' Sam said her blue eyes watching the space battle in front of her with dismay.

Daniel pursed his lips. 'I might have one.' He pushed his glasses up his nose. 'Maybe we can get to Ba'al.'

'How?' Jack demanded.

'We know we…well, you,' Daniel pointed at Sam, 'killed the Replicator but he doesn't.'

'You want me to pretend to be her.' Sam deduced.

'Are you up for that, Carter?' Jack asked his brown eyes scanning her tired face.

Mitchell watched in amazement as Sam drew energy from God only knew where to nod firmly. 'It might be a way onto Ba'al's ship.' He concurred, his gaze drifting to the general.

'If we can get him to lower the shields to let Sam on board.' Jack corrected.

'We just need to give him enough of a reason to.' Daniel insisted.

Jack shifted uneasily and sighed. 'Me.'

'Sir?' Sam asked hesitantly.

'We all know Ba'al and I have history.' Jack said seriously. 'We should use it.'

'Jack…' Daniel objected his horrified blue eyes meeting his friend's at the idea.

The scout ship took a hit from a barrage by a persistent glider and the debate was suspended while they all clung onto the consoles trying to keep their balance.

'Our shields are almost gone.' Teal'c stated calmly diving past a pair of Goa'uld gliders with a skill that had Mitchell looking at him enviously.

'You have to show me how to do that.' Mitchell murmured.

'OK, time's up, kids. We'll take out Ba'al's ship with C4 when we get aboard.' Jack responded.

'That's probably rule number ten,' muttered Daniel to Mitchell. 'Always blow up the Goa'uld mother ship with C4.'

Jack glared at him and gestured at Sam. 'Make the call to Ba'al. Tell him you've brought him a present.'

Sam nodded reluctantly. She knew the General's torture at the hands of Ba'al had been one of the worst experiences of his whole time in the Stargate programme. She couldn't help admire the strength of character it took to literally face his demon. She moved to the front and opened up a channel to Ba'al. 'Ba'al. Respond. This is the Replicator.'

'What are you doing here?' Ba'al's voice reverberated in the small ship.

'My brethren are capable of dealing with Earth. I came to ensure your success here.' Sam shot back. 'And I have brought you a gift. The human known as O'Neill.'

'You have O'Neill?' Ba'al said admiringly.

'Lower your shields and I will transport aboard with him.' Sam said.

'In case you haven't noticed it is not the best time to lower my shields.' Ba'al commented dryly.

'It was a courtesy, Ba'al.' Sam said coldly. 'Lower your shields or I will lower them myself.'

There was a silence and they all held their breath wondering if Ba'al had gone for it.

Daniel looked questioningly at Sam and she shrugged; she had no idea if Ba'al would believe her performance.

'Very well.' Ba'al said.

'He's lowered his shield.' Sam confirmed.

'Teal'c, put this thing on auto and let's go.' Jack said as they all gathered back in the centre of the rings their zats at the ready.'

They ringed onto Ba'al's ship and immediately took out the Jaffa guarding the ring room with shots of blue electricity.

'OK,' Jack said as Teal'c took up a covering position by the door, 'Mitchell, Daniel, Teal'c; plant as much as C4 as you can all over the ship, target the shield generators, weapons, engines, anything that if it gets taken out would give us an advantage. Try not to get discovered.'

'What about you and Sam?' Daniel asked.

'We're going to make our way up to the bridge and deal with Ba'al.' Jack said evenly. 'We'll meet back here and get off this ship as soon as we're done. Understood?'

They all nodded.

'OK, you guys get going. We'll cover you.' Jack jerked his head at the door. He and Sam watched them duck out of the ring room and head down the gilded corridor.

'Ready, Carter?' Jack asked.

'We might encounter less resistance if we make it appear that you're under my control, sir.' She suggested.

'Good idea.' Jack said. 'We'll leave the P90s here. Take only the zats.'

'You should know Ba'al will probably be able to tell it's me in person, sir.' Sam said. 'He'll sense the naquadah in my blood.'

'We'll worry about that when we get there.' Jack said firmly. 'Let's go kick some Goa'uld ass, shall we?'

'Yes, sir.' Sam smiled at him and gestured with her zat.

He walked out ahead of her and she followed with his zat in one hand, her own raised and pointed at him as they made their way through the corridors. They passed a Jaffa patrol who all but fell over themselves to avoid Sam.

It looked like the human form Replicator had the Jaffa scared senseless, Jack thought. He could sympathise. He didn't voice the thought knowing how Sam would react if he said it out loud. He had endured hours of torture at the hands of her duplicate. His only comfort had been in knowing he had denied her the victory she had wanted; he had never forgotten that she wasn't his Sam. There had been one strange moment though…

He cleared his throat and kept his voice low. 'You know, Carter, when I was on the ship with the Replicator, I kinda thought you were in my head one time.'

There was a question in the statement and she nodded across at him quickly.

Jack sighed and gestured at her. 'I'm thinking this might fall under the category of unusual behaviour, Carter.'

'I'll report to the infirmary if we make it back, sir.' Sam replied wryly.

'When, Carter.' Jack corrected.

It took them some time to get to the bridge. Jack indicated the count on one hand as they entered and Sam nodded her head subtly to confirm she had understood. There were four Jaffa; one at the flight controls; one operating the weapons and two at the door. Ba'al was sat lounging on the only chair on the bridge. It was gold and throne-like. They walked a safe distance inside the room and came to a halt in front of Ba'al.

His dark eyes scanned her with confusion and realisation hit him hard and fast. 'You're not the Replicator.'

'Surprise!' yelled Jack and grabbed his zat as Sam threw it toward him. He spun and kicked out at the guard by the flight controls; he zatted the other. He ducked behind a console and fired at the other guard taking him out too.

Sam fell to her knees and zatted the two guards by the door before she dived for cover. She wasn't quick enough. Ba'al had already moved from his throne and he grabbed her roughly; the ribbon device was pointed at her head and she felt the first stirrings of pain as the orange glow hit her.

'Ba'al!' Jack yelled from his position. 'Let her go!'

'I will kill her, O'Neill.' Ba'al said almost lazily. 'Unless you surrender immediately.'

'Don't do it, sir!' Sam managed to shout past the unremitting pain.

Jack knew he had no choice; he couldn't let Ba'al kill her. He threw down the zat and stepped out from the console. His brown eyes met Ba'al's smug gaze as he put his hands up. 'It's me you want. Let her go.'

Ba'al deactivated the ribbon device. Sam fell weakly to the floor and curled up into a foetal ball. Jack immediately stepped toward her and when Ba'al didn't object, hurried over to her side. He pulled her unresisting body into his arms cradling it gently.

The Goa'uld flounced back to the throne as more Jaffa rushed into the room. Ba'al took a moment to order them to take over the controls before he turned back to the curious sight in front of him of O'Neill holding Samantha Carter. 'Interesting.' He drawled. 'I had planned to kill you but perhaps I could have some fun first.' He smiled cruelly. 'I have always wondered what would be worse; to be tortured yourself or to watch those you care about be tortured. What do you think?'

Jack smoothed Sam's blonde hair back from her pale face and gently stroked the faint red mark that the ribbon device had left. He stared with disgust at the Goa'uld. 'I think you're a sick bastard.'

Ba'al smiled in satisfaction. 'You've lost your sense of humour, O'Neill.' He settled back in his throne. 'I do believe you might be more than a little fond of the Colonel.' He saw the barely perceptible flicker that crossed the deeply carved lines on O'Neill's face. He was right, he thought incredulously. The man was in love with the woman in his arms. 'Humans,' he sighed, 'in the end you're just as predictable as the Jaffa. What a disappointment.'

Jack felt a weapon being pressed into his hand and had to stop himself from reacting. Sam was obviously not as out of it as she was pretending. He gripped the zat and tensed. He would have to time it right. 'It's over, Ba'al.'

The Goa'uld laughed. 'I will soon take Dakara. The Replicator will have Earth.'

'The Replicator is dead and Earth is safe.' Jack retorted.

Ba'al smiled. 'Then you have saved me the task of ridding myself of her.' He leaned back and stroked his beard. 'I will get to Earth in time.'

'You won't get to Earth.' Jack caught a movement by the door; the rest of SG1 were slipping into the room. 'It ends here.' He said and his eyes met Ba'al's with renewed confidence.

'My Lord!' Ba'al's Jaffa interrupted the exchange. 'There are two ships exiting hyperspace.'

'What ships?' Ba'al said.

The Jaffa turned to him with a visibly frightened expression. 'It's the Asgard, sir and an Earth vessel.'

Jack smirked at the Goa'uld. 'That'll be the cavalry.'

Ba'al scowled and his eyes flashed white. 'Get us out of here.' He ordered.

'Oh I don't think you're going anywhere, Ba'al, old buddy.' Jack drawled. The first of the C4 explosions rocked the ship.

'Our shields are down!' The other Jaffa yelled.

'Now!' Jack shouted as the bridge shook again; this time taking heavy fire from the Prometheus.

Teal'c and Mitchell moved and both took out one of the Jaffa with a zat. Ba'al was half-way out of his seat when Jack pointed the zat at him.

'Ah! Ah!' Jack shook his head as Ba'al reached for his wrist. 'I wouldn't.' He stood slowly and, beside him, Sam got to her feet.

Ba'al watched as they were joined by others; a human male with brown hair and blue eyes hidden by circles of glass – the infamous Doctor Jackson, he surmised. Another human male of a similar build to Jackson stood beside him; the new guy, Ba'al thought dismissively. Finally, the shol'var Teal'c stood next to Colonel Carter. All of SG1 stood in front of him and all had weapons pointed at him. Ba'al shifted uncomfortably.

'Ba'al, Ba'al.' Jack sighed dramatically. 'You seem to have lost your sense of humour.'

Ba'al gave a tight smile as another volley of fire hit the ship. 'You have your prize, O'Neill. I will come with you without a fight.'

Jack's face creased in confusion and he waved his gun at the Goa'uld. 'I'm not taking you with us.' He looked at Sam. 'Did I say I was taking him with us? Because I don't recall saying that?'

A look of pure panic flitted across Ba'al's face before he regrouped a little. 'I am more valuable to your government alive.'

'Maybe.' Jack admitted with deadly calm. 'But I'm going to kill you anyway.' His brown eyes hardened. 'And I'm going to do it the once.' He zatted him twice.

For a long moment, they all looked at Ba'al slumped in his throne, dead.

Daniel raised his zat and fired; the body disappeared.

Jack looked over at him in surprise. The archaeologist pushed his glasses up his nose and didn't say anything. Jack had always wondered if the other man remembered how, when Daniel had been ascended, he had stayed with Jack during his torture at Ba'al's hands, kept him sane during the whole ordeal; how he had helped sow the seeds of his recovery back at the SGC. He had never asked Daniel if he remembered and Daniel had never indicated he had. The younger man finally met his eyes and the look they shared was one of total understanding. Jack felt the catch of emotion in his throat.

The console behind them exploded.

'So,' Jack said clearing his throat, 'any ideas on how we get out of here before we get blown up?'

Sam was already moving to the controls. 'If we can get a message to the Asgard or the Prometheus, we can…'

The flash of light and disorientation was familiar and much wanted. They re-materialised on the bridge of the Prometheus. In front of them Ba'al's ship exploded; a brief fireball that lit up space.

The battle was over; they had won.